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Cubs sign top international prospect Jimenez

Cubs sign top international prospect Jimenez

2013 MLB.com Top International Prospects: Eloy Jimenez is an advanced hitter with quick hands and is expected to hit for average

By Cash Kruth
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MLB.com |

CHICAGO -- On Thursday night, the Cubs officially announced the signing of Dominican outfielder Eloy Jimenez, the top-ranked international prospect, according to MLB.com.

Jimenez signed for $2.8 million and a college bonus, which MLB.com first reported in early July.

"It's my dream to be a Major League Baseball player, but I don't want to just get there," Jimenez told MLB.com in June. "I want to be one of the best players in the game and to ever come from the Dominican Republic."

The 16-year-old outfielder is considered the crown jewel of this year's international class because of his 6-foot-4, 198-pound frame and multiple tools.

He has plus-speed and gap-to-gap power and is an advanced hitter for his age. Defensively, he's sound with a strong arm and projects as a corner outfielder.

Although Jimenez played for the RBI program in the Dominican Republic and for the International Prospect League, he lacks in-game experience and should continue to grow once he reports to the Cubs' academy.

Cash Kruth is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @cashkruth. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.